Manually controlled soap press



'J. GARVEY MANUALLY CONTROLLED SOAP PRESS Dec 5, 1950 3 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed 001;. 8, 1948 jib 517221" Dec. 5, 1950 J. GARVEY 2,532,666

MANUALLY CONTROLLED SOAP PRESS Filed Oct. 8, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 @Z Y 56' X 57 1 -JZ17755 BY Dec. 5, 1950 J. GARVEY MANUALLY CONTROLLED SOAP PRESS s Sheets-SheefE Filed Oct. 8, 1948 m M 7mm 5' r O W i/YWEHZJP 12755 555L752 Patented Dec. 5, 1950 OFFICE MANUALLY CONTROLLED SOAP PRESS James Garvey, Vancouver, British Columbia,

I a Canada I Application October 8, 1948, Serial No. 53,405

The invention relates to soap presses.

In the production of soap, the final shape, marking and finish are achieved in a soap press, which consists essentially of a fixed die adapted to receive a bar or cake of soap of approximately the desired final dimensions, a moveable die and means for actuating or tripping. the moveable die so that it will be brough't onto thefixed die to exert the desired pressure on the cake of soap. Since the operators of such machines are usually paid according to their production, that is, they are employed as piece workers, they become veryskilful in operating a single manually controlled press, in removing the finished cake and inserting another cake to be pressed with a very short interval between the operationsof the die, and this skill and speed increase'until eventually the operator fails to get his fingers away from the closing die soon enough, and loses one or more fingers.

Automatic machines have therefore been developed to dispense with the services of the operator, but these can only be used where mass production is desired, and further, semi-automatic and fully automatic presses are subject to the disadvantage that they do not provide for variations in pressure: and they either cannot provide the dwell at the 'endvof the pressing stroke which is generally considered to be necessary; or may provide it only at very considerable expense. By .dwell is meant a pauseduring which the full pressure of the moveable'die continues to be exerted instead of being immediately released. Variation in the pressure applied to a cake of soap is desirable because soaps diiler in consistency and also in the final densityrequired.

Accordingly single presses attended by an operator are almost universaly used and soap manufacturers have sou ht to provide these presses with controls which would prevent the operators from placing a hand in the danger zone during the closing of the moveable die, the object being so to arrange controls that the move able die cannot be tripped without the operation of two controls, each requiring a hand. These safety devices have all been subject to the se ious disadvantage, however,-that it has been possible 'for the operator to block off one of them so that he can trip the press with one hand instead of both, and thereby increase. his production, but eventually lose his fingers.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a soap press which, because it is manually operated, may be caused to dwell-t0 10 Claims. (01. 251i)) any extent desired and yet, though it is manually operated, positively cannot be operated without both hands being used to operate controls.

More specifically it is an object of the invention to provide, in a manually operated soap press, control valve means requiring the use of both hands in which no part requiring the use of a hand for operation can be blockedout.

More specifically again it is an, object of the invention to provide, in a manually operated soap press, control valve meansin which each of two hand operated valves must be actuated at the 7 same time in order to close the moveable die on the fixed die, and must both be released and again actuated before the moveable die can again be caused to close on the fixed die.

A further object of the invention is to provide a soap press in which the moveable die is closed on the fixed die by means of a cylinder and piston assembly operated by a gaseous fluid, preferably air, under pressure.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a soap press in which pressure is applied to a cake of soap by a moveable die closed on a fixed die by means operated by a gaseous fluid under pressure and the duration and degree of this pressure maybe varied at will according to the consistency of the soap to be pressed and the final density required.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear from the'following description of an embod 'ment of the invention with'reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a front elevation of a soap press according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an elevation of the same press from the right hand side;

Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating theoperation of the press;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view of one of the hand operated valves;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the shuttle valve;

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-5 ofFigure 5;

Figure 7 is a section on the line 1-1 of Figure 5, and

Figure 8 is a sectional view of the multi-way valve.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the soap press is mounted on a frame [0 and includes the conventional fixed die I l, ejector lzand upper moveable die 13 adapted to be closed on the fixed die l l to compress a cake of soap placed therein 29 g l?- ll: its final shape, marking and fin- Q ish. The ejector i2 is operated through piston rod 84 by double acting cylinder and piston assembly l5, the cylinder containing a piston (not shown) which may be operated by the admission of a liquid or a gaseous fluid under pressure, to either end of the cylinder. The upper moveable die is is operated through piston rod l6 by double-acting cylinder and piston assembly H which may similarly be operated by admission of a liquid or a gaseous fluid under pressure to either end of the cylinder, and a multiway valve 18 is operable to pass fluid under pressure either to the fluid lines l9 and 25 to withdraw the ejector i2 and move the die l3 to com press a cake of soap against the fixed die H, or to fluid lines 22 and 23 to withdraw the moveable die l3 and move the piston rod l4 out to raise the ejector it in the fixed die H and eject the finished cake of soap.

Although as indicated, the assemblies l5 and I! may be liquid operated, it is desirable that they be of the type operated by a gaseous fluid under pressure and preferably air, so that the only one source of fluid under pressure is" required, as indicated in Figure 3. Air under pressure is therefore admitted at 24 to an air filter, regulator, and lubricator indicated generally by the reference numeral 25, and air, at a pressure which may accordingly be regulated as desired in accordance with the consistencies of the soap to be pressed and the final density required, passes from there to the line 26 which is connected to the line 2'! leading to the multi-way valve I 8 which is provided with an exhaust 23 and a silencer 29.

As illustrated in Figure 8, the multi-way valve 18 is provided with a central bore 36, and a plunger 3! which carries flexible washers 3'2 and 33, and is moved endwise in the manner described below to one of two positions with the following effect, which may best be understood by reference to Figure 3:

(1) To pass air under pressure to lines 22 and 23 by connecting inlet 34 to port 35', and to connect lines It and to exhaust line 28 by connecting port 35 to exhaust port 31, thus withdrawing the die t3 and actuating the ejector l2 (this being the position shown), or

To pass air under pressure to lines is and 20 by connecting inlet 34 to port 36, and to connect. lines 22 and 23' to exhaust. line 28 by connecting port 35 to exhaust port 31, thus actuating the die l3 and withdrawing the ejector l2.

The plunger 3i is provided with an. extension 3lA operating in a chamber 38 separate from the bore 35 and carrying a high pressure cup 39 between washers 46 and 41. Spring 42 engaging washer 4! urges plunger 3! tov the position illustrated in Figure 8 in which the, inlet 34- is connected to port 35 i. e. the first position described above. The plunger 3| is moved to the second position described above. by the admission of air under pressure through inlet 43 which is connected to line 26 by line 44 provided with valve means which make it necessary for an operator to actuate each of two hand operated valves at the same time in order to allow air under pressure to pass through line 44 to inlet 43, and necessary to release bothsaid hand operated valves before the line may be again cleared to operate plunger 3 I.

This valve means consists of tWohand CD6 'w' ated valves A and B illustrated in Figure 4 and a shuttle valve C illustrated in Figure 5. The valves A and B are the same, and in each a plunger 45 (Figure 4) is urged by a spring 46 to the position illustrated in which the connection 41 to the high pressure side of the valve is closed oil? by the plunger 45, and the connection 48 which is on the low pressure ide of the valve in the line 44 is connected to exhaust. Therefore, referring to Figure 3, the valve A normally exhausts the portion of line 44 between valve A and valve C, while preventing air under pressure from passing to valve C, and valve B similarly exhausts the portion of line 44 between valve B and inlet 43 of the multi-way valve l8 while preventing the passage to the inlet 43 of any air under pressure which might be passed by valve C. When the plunger 45 of valve A is pressed down, the port 49 is brought into line with the connections 41 and 48, and air under pressure then passes to the shuttle valve C (Figure 5) entering at 50: and passing from outlet 5!, if, as explained below, Valve B is also operated at the same time as valve A.

Valve. C has a casing 52 which, for convenience in assembling the valve, is formed with a central piece 53, an inlet end piece 54 and an outlet end piece 55. The central piece is divided into; two chambers X. and Y by a fixed wall 56, and the chamber Y is separated from the chamber' Z formed in the end piece 55 by a plug 5'1. having formed therethrough a central passage 53 adapted to. be blocked on the outlet side by a check valve 59'.

Referring to Figures 5, 6 and 7, the end'of the check valve which abuts the plug 51 is formed with cut-outs 66" (Figure 7) and is guided on the inner face of the end piece 55 while the other end of the checkvalve is guided by the inturned flange 6| of an insert 52 (Figures 5 and 6), the flange being provided with holes 63.

A hollow plunger 64 extends from the chamber Y through a suitable aperture in the fixed wall 56 and through a seal '65 into the chamber Y, the

. end of the plunger extending into chamber Y being provided with holes 65, referred to below, and the other end carrying a high pressure cup 6?. A tube 68 fixed to a base 69 is positioned within the hollow plunger 64 and extends to a point close to the holes 66 so that air entering valve C at 50 i at once conveyed to holes 66 and thus to chamber Y. The tube 58 is however, spaced from the hollow plunger 64 todefine an annual passage through which air may also pass to the portion of chamber X between the high pressure cup 61 and the base 69- of the tube 68. A spring 1| normally holds the plunger '64 in the position shown in Figure 5.

The end wall of the plunger 64 adjacent the holes 66 is closed, a illustrated and is adapted to close ofi the passage 58 when the plunger 64 is moved to the left in Figure 5 against the action of spring H. During such movement a build-up of pressure in the chamber X between the high pressure cup and the fixed wall 56 is prevented by vent I2.

As will appear from the description which follows, the check valve 59 is left, at the end of a complete operation of the moveable die H3, in the seated position blocking the passage 58 and will remain in. that position until the valve B is operated. It is therefore necessary that both valves A' and B be. operated but when they are, the check valve 59 is unseated and. air under pressure passes through the outlet 5| to the pass'age of air through passage 58.

moves plunger ,64 to closev ofi passage 53. .therefore impossible for an operator to cause the idle IE to move towards the die II without using both hands to actuate the two valves A and B and valve B and from there through; the balance of the 'l'ihe-4 l' tothe inlet 43 of multi-way valve l8 (Figure 8) ,-so as to move the plunger 3i and its extension 31A downwardly to withdraw the electorn and move the die [3 to compress a cake of soap placedin'the die H.- The pressure exerted by-the die i3 may be maintained for any length of time'desired to provide the dwell refrred to herein, and on release of the two valves A and B the line 44 is exhausted and the spring 42 is e'nabled'to return the plunger 3 I 'to the position shown in Figure '8, in which the die I3 is withdrawn and the ejector I2 is actuated.

When the plunger 3| has been moved, against the action of the spring 32, to the second position referred to above (i.- e. the opposite of the position shown in Figure 8), the pressure in the'line- 45 quickly builds up until it is the same at the inlet '43 and at both endsof passage 58. Accordingly the pressure builds up in thechamber Y. During thisbuild up of pressure air has, of course, passed through the annular passage to the portion" of chamber X between the high pressure cup 51 and the base 69 of tube 68, and when there is no longer any how of air through the passage 58 the plunger 64 is moved to the left in Figure 5 by reason of the pressure exerted on the cup 61. The 'space betweenthe cup] 61 and base 69 thus increases and there is momentarily a drop in'pressure inthe chamber Y. This momentary pressure drop allows the pressure in the chamber Z to seat the check valve 59 in the plug 51. Plunger 64 then continues to move until it closes passage 58, thus preventing further air under pressure from passing to valve B. The plunger 64 cannot be retracted until the pressure at the inlet '50is released and therefore valve A'must be released so as to exhaust the linebetween valves A and C before plunger '54 can be 'moved clear of passage 58. It is apparent therefore that the valve A cannot be tied down, but instead must be released and actuated again before a fresh slug of air may be passed through the shuttle valve C. Similarly,

the valve B- may not be tied down but must be actuatedjat the same time,as valve A and must thereafter be released again before shuttle valve C will pass more air under pressure. If valve B hold the check valve 59 on its seat and prevent the v e In order to enable air passed by valve A to get' to inlet 43 (Eigur'e' 8) check valve 59 must be moved from 'its-seat and to this end valve B must be released 'toexhaust the line between it and inlet 53 and must be again actuated to connect the line between valves C and B to the remainder of the line leading to inlet 43. It will be observed that it is necessary that the valves A and B be operatedat the same time because if valve B is not operated at the same time, check valve 59 remains on its seat and air under pressure promptly passes through passage 58 to chamber X and It .is

to release them.

It-will be apparent that because the machine is manually operated it satisfies not only those who prefer the dwell mentioned above, but those who consider that a better result is obtained by two -of the press being contemplated which 'will pro- 6. vide for two or more such strokes at one operation of the controls.

While in the embodiment of the invention described above the multi-way valve I8 is connected to close the moveable die IS on the fixed die II when the plunger 3| is moved against spring 42 and to withdraw the moveable die l3 when the line 44 is exhausted, the connections may be reversed so that when the plunger 3! is in the position illustrated in Figure 8, the moveable die 13 is closed on the fixed die H and movement of the plunger 3! on the admission of air under pressure to chamber 38 has the efiect of withdrawing the moveable die l3. In that event the hand operated valves A and B must be modified so that when they are released the port 49 is brought into line with the connections 4'! and 48, and when they are operated the connection 41 to the high pressure side of the line is closed off and the connection 48 is connected to exhaust.

I claim:

1. In a manually controlled soap press of the type having a fixed die adapted to receive a cake of soap, a moveable die adapted to close thereon to compress the cake of soap, a fiuidoperated double acting cylinder and piston assembly, and a multi-way valve operable to connect fluid under pressure to said assembly to move the moveable die to open and closed positions, an, improved safety operating arrangement comprising means normally holding the multi-way valve in position to connect said cylinder and piston assembly to move the moveable die to one of said positions, means operable by a gaseous fluid under pressure and adapted in response to: a given pressure to actuate the multi-way valve to connect said cylinder and piston assembly to move the moveable die to the other of said positions, a line connecting the last mentioned means to a source of gaseous fluid under pressure, safety valve means in said line comprising, two hand operated valves, each adapted in a first position to interrupt the line and exhaust the same on the low pressure side of each hand operated valve, and in a second position to open the line, and, between the hand operated valves, valve means adapted on actuation of the multi-way valve and equalization of pressure in the line, to close the line and maintain the same closed until the hand operated valves are both returned to said first position.

2. In a manually controlled soap press of the "type having a fixed die adapted to receive a cake pf soap, amoveable dieadapted to close thereon to compress the cake of soap, a fluid-operated double'acting cylinder and piston assembly, and a multi-way valve operable to connect fluid under pressure to said assembly to move the moveable die to open and closed positions, an improved safety operating arrangement comprising means normally holding the multi-way valve in position to connect said cylinder and piston assembly to move the moveable die to one of said positions, means operable by a gaseous fluid under pressure and adapted in response to a given pressure to actuate the multi-way valve to connect said cylinder and piston assembly to move the moveable die to the other of said positions, a line connect- "a second position to openthe line, and, between ithe hand operated valves, valve means comprisingarcasing. havingfarr inlet: and: an outlet, means dividing the easing into at least two chambers, a passage connecting said two: chambers, a check valve: in the chamber on the outlet side of said passage operable to close the same, and a valve moveable in the chamber on the inletside of said passage. and operable on equalization of pressure inthe line between said passage and said multiwayvalve first to create av drop in pressure in thechamber on the inlet side of said passage adapted to seat the check, valve and thereafter to close said passage.

3.. In a manually controlled soap press of the type having a; fixed die adapted to receive a. cake of soap, a moveable die adapted to close thereon to. compress the cake of soap, a fluid-operated double acting cylinder and piston assembly, and a lllllltl-Wfiy: valve operable to connect fluid under pressure to said assembly to move the moveable die to open. and closed positions, an improved safety operating arrangement comprising means normally holding the multi-way valve in position to; connect said cylinder and piston assembly to move the moveable die to one of said positions, means-operable by a gaseous fluid under pressure and adapted in response to a given pressure to actuate the multi-way valve to connect said cylinder and piston assem ly to move the moveable die to the other of said positions, a line connecting said last mentioned means to a source of gaseous fluid under regulated pressure, safety valve means in the line comprising, two hand operated. valves, each adapted in a first position to interrupt the line and exhaust the same on the lowpressure side of each hand operated valve, and in a second position to open the line, and, between the hand operated valves, valve means comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet, means dividing the casing into at least two chambers, one in communication with said outlet and another with said inlet, a passage connecting said two chambers, a check valve in the outlet chamber operable to close said passage, a. plunger having means at the end remote from said passage adapted in response to pressure to move the plunger longitudinally to close said passage at the inlet chamber side, and a passage adapted to pass the gaseous fluid at the pressure existing in the inlet chamber to said pressure means.

4. In a manually controlled soap press of the type having a fixed die adapted to receive a cake of soap, a moveable die adapted. to close thereon to compress the cake of soap, a fluid-operated double acting cylinder and piston assembly, and a multi-way valve operable to connect fluid under pressure to said assembly to move the moveable die to. openand closed position, an improved safety operating arrangement comprising means normally holding the multi-Way valve in position to connect said cylinder and piston assembly to move the moveable die to one of said positions, means operable by a gaseous fluid under pressure and adapted in response to a given pressure to actuate the multi-way valve to connect said cylinder and piston assembly to move the moveable die. to the other of said positions, a line connecting said last mentioned means to a source of" gaseous fluid under regulated pressure, safety valve means in the line comprising, two hand operated valves, each adapted in a first position to interrupt the line and exhaust the same on the low pressure side of each hand operated valve, and in a second position to open the line, and, between the hand operated valves, valve means comprising a casing having an inlet-and an outlet, means dividin the easing, into three chambers, one in; commonly cation with. said outlet, a main inlet; chamber incommunicationwith said inlet. and a subsidiary inlet chamber communication with. the; main inlet, chamber, a passage connecting the outlet chamber and the main inlet chamber, a, check valvein the outlet chamber operabletoclose said passage, a plunger moveable to. close,- saidpassage at the inlet chamber. side, and means in said subsidiary inlet chamber connected to the plunger and adapted in response to a given. pressure. of the gaseous fluid admitted to thesubsidiarv inlet chamber, to move the plunger to, close said passage.

5. In a manually controlled. soap press ofv the type having a fixeddie adapted to receive a cake of soap, a moveable die adapted. to'closethereon to. compress the cake ofsoap, a pneumatic: double acting cylinder and piston assembly, anda multipway valve operable toconnect air under pressure to one end or the other of said. assembly, means normally holding the. multi-way valve in position to connect air to said assembly to. withdraw the moveable die, an improved safety operating. at,- rangement comprising; means operable by air under pressure and adapted in response. to agiven pressure to actuate the multi-.-wayvalve to pass air to said assembly to close the. moveable; die. on the fixed die, a sourceof. air under regulated pres.- sure, a line connecting said source to the inlet of the multi-way valve, a lineconnecting said source to said means operable to, actuate the multi-way valve, safety valve means, in. the,- last mentioned line comprising two. hand operated valves each adapted normally tointerrupt the line and exhaust the, same on the low pressure side of each hand operated valve, and when operated to open the line, valve means between the hand operated valves and comprising a casing. having an. inlet and an. outlet, means dividing the casing into three chambers, one in communication with said outlet, a main inlet chamber in communication with said inlet and a subsidiary inlet chamber in communication with the maininlet chamber, a passage connecting the outlet chamber and the main inlet. chamber, a checkvalve in the outlet chamber operable to.- close said passage, a hollow plunger mounted in said inlet chamber and moveable longitudinally to close said passage at the inlet chamber side, a high pressure cup connected to the, plunger and positioned. in the subsidiary inlet chamber, a tube Within the. hollow plunger adapted to pass air under pressure from said inlet to the main inlet chamber, an annular passage formed between-theplunger andthe tube connecting the main inlet chamber to the sub sidiary inlet chamber on the side. of the high pressure. cup. remote. from the'main inletv chamber,

and spring means ofv a. given strength acting on said plunger to resist, movement. in. the direction to. close said passage.

6.. In a. manually controlled. soap press of the type. having a. fixed die, a. cooperating. ejector, and a moveable die, the combination oi control means having a position for causing. closing of the moveable die on the fixed die and withdrawal of the ejector and a position for causing with,- drawal of the moveable die and actuation of the ejector, means normally holding the first mentioned means in one position, and pressure operated means for moving the first mentioned means, to the other position; a line connecting said pressure operated means to a source of gaseous fluid under; pressure, and, in said line, safety valve means c mprising: two: hand Operated: valves each adapted in a first position to interrupt the line and exhaust the same on the low pressure side of each hand operated valve and in a second position to open the line, and, between the hand operated valves, valve means adapted, on operation of the pressure operated 'means and equalization of pressure in the line, to close the line and maintain the same closed until the hand operated valves are both returned to said first position.

7. In a manually controlled soap press of the type having a fixed die, a cooperating ejector, and a moveable die, the combination of control means having a position for causing closing of the moveable die on the fixed die and withdrawal of the ejector and a position in which it causes withdrawal of the moveable die and actuation of the ejector, means normally holding the first mentioned means in one position, and pressure operated means for moving the first mentioned means to the other position; a line connecting said pressure operated means to a source of gaseous fluid under pressure, and, in said line, safety valve means comprising two hand operated valves each adapted in a first position to interrupt the line and exhaust the same on the low pressure side of each hand operated valve and in a second position to open the line, and, between the hand operated valves, valve means comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet, means dividing the casing into three chambers, one in communication with said outlet, a main inlet chamber in communication with said inlet and a subsidiary inlet chamber in communication with the main inlet chamber, a passage connecting the outlet chamber and the main inlet chamber, a check valve in the outlet chamber operable to close said passage, a plunger moveable to close said passage at the inlet chamber side, and means in said subsidiary inlet chamber connected to the plunger and adapted in response to a given pressure of the gaseous fluid admitted to the subsidiary inlet chamber, to move the plunger to close said passage.

8. A soap press comprising a fixed die, a moveable die adapted to close thereon to compress a cake of soap, a double-acting cylinder and piston assembly operated by a gaseous fluid under pressure, a multi-way valve operable to connect a source of gaseous fluid under pressure to said assembly to move the moveable die either to open 10 or to closed position, and means for operated the multi-way valve.

9. A manually-controlled soap press comprising a fixed die, a moveable die adapted to close thereon to compress a cake of soap, a doubleacting cylinder and piston assembly operated by a gaseous fluid under pressure, a multi-way valve operable to connect a source of gaseous fluid under pressure to said assembly to move the movable die either to open or to closed position, means for regulating the pressure of said gaseous fluid admitted to said cylinder and piston assembly, and manually-controlled means for operating the multi-way valve.

10. A manually-controlled soap press comprising a fixed die, a moveable die adapted to close thereon to compress a cake of soap, a doubleacting cylinder and piston assembly operated by a gaseous fluid under pressure, a multi-way valve operable to connect a source of gaseous fluid under pressure to said assembly to move the moveable die either to open or to closed position, means for regulating the pressure of said gaseous fluid admitted to said cylinder and piston assembly, means normally holding the multi-way valve in position to connect said cylinder and piston assembly to move the moveable die to one of said positions, means operable by a gaseous fluid under pressure and adapted in response to a given pressure to actuate the multi-way valve to connect said cylinder and piston assembly to move the moveable die to the other of said positions, a line connecting said last-mentioned means to a source of gaseous fluid under pressure and valve means in the line adapted in a first position to interrupt the line and exhaust the same on the low pressure side thereof and in a second position to open the line whereby to operate said pressureresponsive means to actuate the multi-way valve.

JAMES GARVEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

